Meanwhile, in the world of things that should be cute but aren’t…
Came across an Indian thing called a kitty party. My eyes lit up, as you can imagine – a room full of floofed and skwee’ed kitties, partying and snorgling – what’s not to like!? Alas, ’twas not to be…even the headline is misleading!! :(http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jan302004/she3.asp

The Hippopotamus
Ogden Nash
Behold the hippopotamus!
We laugh at how he looks to us,
And yet in moments dank and grim,
I wonder how we look to him.
Peace, peace, thou hippopotamus!
We really look all right to us,
As you no doubt delight the eye
Of other hippopotami.

doncha think both Ogden and Aubery are “full of wordiness,” jaypo? [mischievous smile…]

Aubrey, I do like your poem, but I’d drop the “still.”

Floating barge is great – reminds me of the hippo that was brought down *all* the cataracts of the Nile (back before they were flooded out by the Aswan High Dam) in a *bathtub.* See the book “Zarafa” if you think I’m making this up!

I had lots of problems with that last line. I wanted to indicate that despite his bigness, clubs would be willing to admit Mr. Hippo without paying cover. Using ‘But’ would seem to cover it, however to me it didn’t – here it comes – scan properly.

I just read a similar book called “Clara’s Grand Tour” about a Dutch sea captain in the 17th c. who brought a baby rhino back to Europe. They toured all the great courts and she was the rage of Europe. Clara lived till she was 18. True story, great read!

I wish we could kiss them, but then they’d bite or lips off, and maybe our heads. (I’m not sure if any of these words need apostophes, I am scared to use them now, so bear with me). It’s very cute though. I wonder how it would look all shaved?

jaypo, thanks muchly for the rec. on the rhino book. Now I must read it!

I recently came across Pig on the Titanic, which was written for kids but should have great appeal for adults, too. It’s about a passenger who was able to use her music-box pig to divert the attention of the small children in her lifeboat. (All survived, and so did the toy pig, Maxixe.)

Does anyone remember that song, “I want a hippopotamus for christmas” It’s like a little kid singing the song. At first the song is slightly annoying, but then it’s kind of cute. Now I see why the kid wants one, because they smile!

I don’t remember any songs about wanting a hippo for Christmas, but I do distinctly remember *getting* Hungry Hungry Hippos for Christmas. An excellent game and one which does reveal the super product cuteness potential of hippos.

“I don’t want a doll or a dinky tinker toy,
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy!”

Yes, cute song – and cute hippo. I agree, the little hair-holes with the tufts of bristle coming out are kinda gross/bizarre, but that just gives him the ugly-but-also-cute appeal.

Somebody mentioned manatees and I am thus forced to ask – WHY ARE THERE NO MANATEES HERE?! Manatees are, in their own blubbery, aquatic way, cuter than puppies, kittens, and baby hamsters all rolled into one. I positively ***ADORE*** manatees. I demand manatee-ness!! NOW!!!

Random fact: in Africa, more people are killed by hippos every year than any other wild animal. Apparently they’re extremely agressive, unpredictable and dangerous. Oh, and they have the charming custom of spraying their liquid poop all over the place, using their tails as a kind of high-velocity eggbeater, to mark their territory.

“Apparently they’re extremely agressive, unpredictable and dangerous. Oh, and they have the charming custom of spraying their liquid poop all over the place, using their tails as a kind of high-velocity eggbeater, to mark their territory.”

I think I like the pic ’cause it reminds me of my hairless cat, Flannery. She’s the same color as Hippo, and she also has the completely truncated whiskers common to hairless cats. So, when she gives me extreme kitteh close up kisses in the morning, this is kind of what I see.